Alone tonight in somebody's bed
She gone and dyed her hair red
She only went and did what she did
'Cause he would drive her home then
There's lipstick on her new dress
She hadn't even paid yet
But it doesn't matter where the money went
It wasn't how she paid her rent

One, two, three Marlenas
There's got to be someone we can trust
Out here among us

Now lookin' out across the city lights
She thought they'd be a good pair
Now he could make a living sellin' cars
Maybe she could work there
She's gonna pick a star in the night
And pray to make it all right
She tried so hard not to pick a kite
She always prayed to heaven lights

One, two, three Marlenas
There's got to be someone we can trust
Out here among us
One, two, three Marlenas
It's see no, speak no, hear no evil about us
The three Marlenas

Man, I think I'm gonna buy myself a Rolls
Maybe a Chevrolet
One where I can pull that top down
Just let my radio play
Now I'm headin' out on that highway
I'm goin' right out of state
Now I ain't lookin' back until I'm gone
Right through heaven's gates

One, two, three Marlenas
There's got to be someone we can trust
Out here among us
One, two, three Marlenas
Ya see no, speak no, hear no evil among us
The three Marlenas
Three Marlenas
Three Marlenas

29 Comments

General CommentAfter verifying that Marlena is not a Spanish word other than a name, and having thought about it abit in the meantime, I have a theory. The "Three Marlenas" are the Marlena (the girl who is the subject of the song) in each of the three verses. In verse one, she is someone who feels lost and tries to find right man to make her feel grounded. In the second verse, she is someone who is trying to make a living and find her role in the world, to make her feel that her life has purpose. In the third verse, she is fantasizing about living somewhere else and being successful, about a life different from the one she is now living. So the song describes someone who feels lost and imagines herself as possibly three different people, three different ways to feel whole in the lonely world. Does this sound plausible?

General CommentI agree with stoolhardy. This song seems to be about a girl named Marlena, who is imagining herself as three different people. Each verse she is dreaming/thinking about herself in a different situation in life. The three Marlenas are the three different people she is imagining herself to be. Great song.

General CommentI see a lot of similarities between Bringing Down the Horse and Tangled Up In Blue. Both are on the top of my favorites list. I notice a lot of subtle inspiration that Jakob may have taken from his dad's work. I don't think they're work is a lot alike, but its easy to relate their work and find connections.

General Commentwow, so this song is real. I have a friend named Marlena and she told me about it. beautiful song. how come there isn't a beautiful song written about a person with my name? also, it cracks me up that some of you didn't know Marlena was a name. lol.

General CommentI agree with most people, as in the idea that is about three aspect/hopes/choices a woman could make. My favorite part, that no one really commented on is "There's got to be someone we can trust, Out here among us" which makes me think it is about making a commitment to one and trying to figure out which one is right.
We can all relate to this because we all long for things that don't always go together (like how its fun to be single and also amazing to have someone special). We can't have everything we want. And at some point in time you have to make a decision about what you want most. So for Marlena does she was excitement/attention, stability, or freedom/a journey?
On a person note, as a student about to graduate this is a perfect anthem cause I don't know what path to take next. Maybe I'll just pick a star in the night?

Three Malenas, to me, seem to refer to the ancient Japanese maxim of the "three wise monkeys". See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil often depicted in sculptural form.
In America the phrase is used by those who don't want to deal or be involved with tough situations, or "look the other way". I've heard a Marlina is sort of a west coast slang for a fun or party girl. I've never heard it used here in Georgia where I live. Sounds much better lyrically than one, two, three monkeys.

General Comment"Man, I think I'm gonna buy myself a Rolls
Maybe a Chevrolet
One where I can pull that top down
Just let my radio play
Now I'm headin' out on that highway
I'm goin' right out of state
Now I ain't lookin' back until I'm gone
Right through heaven's gates"

Reminds me of the end of James Dean's life. "Riding through Heaven's gates is when he's dead." Its just reminiscent of that.

General CommentI'ved loved this song since it first came out, but I'm still not sure what it's about. I have no idea what "Marlena" could mean besides a name, or why there would be three of them. My brother once said that this song is about a prostitute, but I'm not sure if I agree.

General CommentThe song seems to be about being alone in a city, similar to 6th Avenue Heartache or One Headlight. And wanting to bust out of there, like in the third verse. It would help if I knew what the chorus meant though. I don't know what a Marlena is, although it's a Spanish name so it might be a Spanish word and I no hable espanol.